Rollin Rollin Rollin

We have been on the road today and here is some of what we have experienced.
- A six door truck. Who does that?
- I snapped a pic of the feet in the stall next to mine at a rest stop. A: this is part of the journey and wanted to document it. B: they were Amish and they never knew I took their pic.
- We stopped with the kids at an Aquarium Restaurant for dinner. It was super cool.

More time on the road tomorrow...

Sikeston, MO

We spent the weekend with our friends Nate and Lauren Simpson and their baby boy Levi. Jon and Nate planned a backpacking trip but got rained out after the first night. We still had fun going to Barnes and Noble, Pilot House Restaurant, Lambert's Home of the throwed rolls, hanging out and playing the game of Life (even though I {Annie} lost)! Also got a shot of Nate, Jon and Jonas doing a dance video game. They were hilarious to watch, especially Jonas! While we were there we also broke the stopper for our black water tank on the outside of the RV... Aka: the pooper. Jon fixed that. Pretty nasty. Luckily we were parked beside a garden that was receiving a slow drip of some nice fertilizer! Ha... Thanks Nate and Lauren for your hospitality!

That's my wife

What else needs to be said?

Bye KC

We left this morning and are on our way to Sikeston, MO. Jonas had so much fun with his cousins Nate and Tyler. A few times he even called them his brothers. Lucy was still too little to play with the big boys most the time, but she will get to join in as she gets bigger. Right now she mostly ruins their fun by messing up their toys and putting them in her mouth. "Eww, Lucy spit!" Was the usual reaction.
Here are the cousins (except new lil baby Bennett) at the park.
Now off to meet up with Nate and Lauren Simpson. :) Jon and Nate will be doing a backpacking trip while we are there.

S'mores time

Enjoying some QT with the kids around the bonfire before we leave Kansas.

Killing time

Just killing some time this afternoon. We are watching a Thomas and Friends movie in the RV with my nephews Nate and Tyler. Nothing beats a change of scenery!

Experiencing Kansas City

Experienced downtown KC with Sarah, Andy, Nate, Tyler and Bennett today! First we visited the Roasterie Cafe for a tour/taste, went to the River City Market and then ate lunch at Oklahoma Joe's BBQ. There were some flea market kind of vendors at the Market and Jon snagged this awesome looking mandolin.

Adjusting

It is a strange thing... Adjusting to a new norm with the full knowledge that this new norm is only going to last for another week. After one more week of this new norm, we will be adjusting to another new norm, then yet another and still another before we find our home at ONU.
I am praising The Lord that He provided work for me after my contract with the Global Ministry Center expires; otherwise I'm sure this would have turned into some sort of twisted psychology experiment.

On a side note, it is exciting to be working with such amazing people at the GMC for the Church of the Nazarene. There are really quality Godly people in key leadership positions. My confidence in this great denomination has been renewed. The future (though we cannot clearly see it) is quite bright!

KC - home for 15 days

We arrived in KC last night at around 9:30 after a horribly slow and rainy day on the road.
Benefits of pulling an RV:
you can always pull over and make an awesome cup of coffee, you can stop for the night whenever you want, you can eat your own food (cheap) any time you want, you can let the kids go nuts and play while you stop to eat (shunned in most dining establishments), and you pretty much feel like the king of the road (unless you are being passed by every semi truck you see).

Disadvantages of pulling an RV:
You get passed by every semi truck you see, everything takes a long time, 10 mpg.

My synopsis- pulling an RV is amazing. I think everyone should pull one everywhere they go.

One extremely sucky turn of events happened to the Croft family last night. After a long day on the road, we were getting ready to climb into our cozy warm bed when to our surprise... Water. Ugh

The caulk along the roof on the back of the RV had split and opened up a nice place for water to enter into the sleeping area. It is a good thing Annie and I are still in live with each other - we shared the twin bed last night! Not what we had planned, but we are adaptable. I made a trip to Lowes today and patched it all up. I have everything all dried up and it is like nothing ever happened. Life goes on. I am looking forward to a nice nights rest on a dry mattress tonight.

God is good, and we are blessed to be living in His favor. Listening to and obeying the Holy Spirit is the best way - the only way to live. Are YOU listening to Him?

I'm awake!!

I love that my press pot fits in this cup holder! Starbucks blonde roast to go ;)

Never saw this coming

Really. This is something that I would never have imagined seeing in real life.

Downtown Kansas City- Crown Center

Tonight we went to Fritz's for Jonas. There are trains that deliver the food to your table. We also visited a cool toy store and Peachwave. Jonas and Lucy also got to throw a penny in a fountain- our cheapest thrill of the evening!

Enjoying KC 4-13-13

Lots of fun today; playing with the cousins, going for a walk, visiting Quay Coffee in downtown KC and a big dinner with the whole family! Looking forward to a nice 70 degree day tomorrow. :)

Our first Sunday not on staff

Today we attended Kansas City Central Church of the Nazarene and got to see our new little nephew Bennett Andrew Foster dedicated. Our brother-n-law Andrew Foster is on staff at that church as well.
We both still feel like we are just on vacation. It was weird attending a church as a lay person today. We didn't have any responsibilities or duties to fulfill. We have been on staff at a church for about the last 8 years so it was just a different feeling. God has been so faithful to our family and we know that he is directing this lifelong adventure we are on with him.

We did indeed enjoy the coffee and band-led service today at KC Central.

Life on the road

Some people like to take naps :)

KC or Bust

We slept at a rest area in the RV last night. Feeling rested and ready to drive this morning. We are heading to Lenexa to meet the newest addition to our family: Bennett Foster!

A slow start

We finished packing at 3:15am. Said goodbye to the house, hooked up to the RV and drove it to the other side of Vicksburg where we spent the night with Dave and Kelly Downs. Didn't put away very many miles yesterday, but sure got a lot done!

Today we will head towards Kansas City where we will welcome our new Nephew to the world. Congrats to my sister Sarah Foster who had her baby about 25 hours before we left our house!

On the way to KC, we will swing by Bourbonnais, IL to say hello to some friends and hopefully get a quick tour of our new apartment. It is going to be a great day. God is Good.

We will miss the great people of Vicksburg - we are praying that God brings the right youth pastor to CMC. He has a plan.

Saying goodbye...

It's so hard to say goodbye.

Packing

Still packing...
After living in this home for 5.5 years, we have acquired a pile of junk that is now our responsibility to pack up and move. I wish I hadn't bought most of this crap.

After filling two storage units, I called to see if any other units were available. As I called they were in the process of evicting a tenant. Uh - awkward!

I paid for my third unit (and hopefully my last!) and got the key to the garage door. When they gave me the key, I asked if the person who had just been evicted had the same key... They hoped I wouldn't ask that question!

My hope is that the person who was just evicted doesn't decide to take out their anger on me. They did say that they were going to be putting a new lock on the door on Monday. I'm really glad for renters insurance!

Tomorrow is a bittersweet day. It is my last Sunday as youth pastor at Chapman Memorial Church. I love these people and will miss them very much, but it is also exciting because as one chapter of life closes, another inevitably opens. We are very excited about the craziest summer ever, and we are very excited also about starting a new life at Olivet Nazarene University.

God is good - don't forget that!

Moving

This is one more reason why moving sucks... A 300 pound wood stove. Ugh

Good things...

You have heard it said that good things come to those who wait, but I say good things come to those who wait upon The Lord.

This morning as I was wrapping up a meeting with my pastor, I got a phone call that I will never forget. In the conversation, I was offered a full time RD position at Olivet Nazarene University. This is the very job that I had prayed a fleece about 6 months ago! I immediately accepted the offer.

God has blessed me and my family with meaningful work that will both provide for my family needs AND present me with numerous opportunities to speak into the lives of young people that need Jesus.

I am blessed - far more than I deserve.

I am a sinner, saved by grace, cherished by the creator of the Heavens. I deserve death, yet He breathes life into my lungs. I deserve punishment, yet he heaps blessings on me. Who am I? I am loved by God - not because of anything I have done, but simply because that is how my Jesus rolls... Thanks God.

Waiting...

I believe it was Tom Petty who wrote the song that best sums up my thoughts: "The waiting is the hardest part."
Last month I applied for a job that would be a very exciting ministry opportunity. The timing works perfectly with my summer contract with the Global Ministry Center of the Church of the Nazarene, and it is something that I feel God pulling me to. Last week was the interview, and I feel like it went really well. They said initially that we would have an answer by the end of the week. I got a call from the director of HR saying that it would be Tuesday (today) or Wednesday before they make their decision. "The waiting is the hardest part!"
There is more than enough to keep me busy and occupied today and tomorrow, so I am thankful for the mind numbing task of packing!
I can't believe this is my last week in Vicksburg! This place truly is my home, and it is hard to leave such great people, but I trust in His plan. The Lord sees not as we see. I desire only to do His will - even when it stretches me.